Survey to confirm the uptake of Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) reduction measures

For several years, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been considering measures to counteract the impacts of Underwater Radiated Noise (URN). In 2014, the organization endorsed its initial set of guidelines, the 2014 IMO Guidelines on URN (MEPC.1/Circ.833). However, since the ratification of these guidelines, oceanic noise levels have continued to increase within certain regions of the world.

In recognition of this escalating issue, primarily caused by shipping activities, the IMO has taken further action. It has revised its guidelines to specifically address and mitigate the negative effects of this noise pollution on marine life. This updated set of guidelines was presented in the 2023 IMO Guidelines on URN (IMO MEPC.1/Circ.906).

IMO has initiated an experience-building phase (EBP) to run from 2023 until 2026. The aim of the EBP is to increase the uptake of the guidelines and to collect information on best practices from its application. The EBP may have a possible two-year extension (2028) depending on the outcome and lessons learned. The IMO will only revise the guidelines after the EBP has been completed.

Noting the above, representatives of ship owners and managers, IACS class Societies, and European and far East shipyards have recently formed a Tripartite Working Group (WG) on Underwater Radiated Noise (URN). The objective of this group is to encourage URN reduction through voluntary measures, and to leverage the strong synergy between energy efficiency and noise reduction to readily achieve this co-benefit.

Initially the WG would like to assess the existing level of uptake of the IMO Guidelines for the reduction of URN and of the quiet-ship class notations. Hence, your cooperation in completing the following brief questionnaire would be very much appreciated.

Please note:

The data is being collected to support the work of the Tripartite working group.
The data will be assessed among the parties behind the survey (ICS, BIMCO and INTERTANKO), but in anonymised form we may share the supplied information with other members of the Tripartite Working Group (i.e. IACS, ASEF, OCIMF and INTERCARGO) and with IMO.
We will not share your contact details with any third parties.
The anonymised data will exclude your name and position, your organisation's name, your email address and names of ships and IMO numbers.
We may contact you if we have questions about the information supplied.
The work of the Tripartite group is expected to extend to the end of 2029, at which point your data will be destroyed.

The survey will run until the end of the Experience Building Phase.

Please contact: marinesurveys@bimco.org should you have any queries or would like further information relating to this survey.

Thank you in advance for your time and effort in completing this survey. It will take around 10 minutes to complete.

1. Please confirm if you grant permission for us to hold and process the information you provide?*

YesNo

2. Please enter your name*

3. Please enter the name of your organisation*

4. Please confirm your position within your organisation*

5. Please enter your email address*

example@example.com

6. Have any of your ships adopted the 2014 IMO Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life (MEPC.1/Circ.833)?*

YesNo

7. If so, please provide the IMO number of the ships that have adopted the 2014 Guidelines. Please also list the URN reduction measures undertaken.

8. Have any of your ships adopted the 2023 revised IMO Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life (MEPC/1/Circ.906)?*

YesNo

9. If so, please provide the IMO number of the ships that have adopted the 2023 Guidelines. Please also list the URN reduction measures undertaken.

10. Have any of your ships adopted any Class Society "quiet ship class" notations?*

YesNo

11. If so, please provide the IMO number of the ships that have adopted the notations and details of the notation awarded. Please also list the URN Class notation.

12. Please confirm where your ships normally operate (e.g. World-wide, Asia, Americas, Europe etc.)*

13. Have any of your ships had their URN emissions either measured or predicted?*

YesNo

14. If yes, please confirm whether this was achieved by either of:

Physical measurements by underwater hydrophonePredictions using model testsPredictions using numerical analysis (e.g. computational fluid dynamics)

15. Please confirm which organisation carried out the measurements, tests or calculations.

16. Were the URN measurements or predictions taken in association with installing any energy efficiency improvements? e.g. fitting of air lubrication equipment, propeller improvements, speed limitation etc.*

YesNo

16.1 If so, please provide details of the adopted energy efficiency measures:

17. Were the URN measurements or predictions carried out:

Before the energy efficiency improvementsAfter the energy efficiency improvementsBoth before and after the energy efficiency improvements

18. In principle, would you be willing to share with the working group the results of any URN measurements or predictions that have been undertaken for your ships?*

YesNo

19. Please use this box to provide any queries or comments